Pen Box with Intertwining Foliate and Floral Vines c. 1880 - 1910

Editor: This pen box, decorated with intertwining foliate and floral vines, is by Razi Sani Humayun. The surface is so elaborately decorated it appears almost jewel-like. What can you tell me about the cultural context of such an object? Curator: Objects like this were not just functional; they were potent symbols of status and learning. The very act of writing, the tools one used, these were carefully constructed performances of power and intellect. What do you think the implications are for the types of people who could own something like this? Editor: So this wasn't for everyday scribbles. It projects a very specific image, almost a political statement. Curator: Precisely. The beauty itself is a form of rhetoric. Considering how museums collect and display such items today, what kind of stories do we end up telling, or not telling, about the history of art and power? Editor: That’s an important point. I never thought of it that way.